Kaluarachchi Research Group

The Kaluarachchi Research Group focuses on clinical and epidemiological research to better understand cardio-respiratory diseases in preterm infants. Due to physiological differences and challenges in studying preterm infants, many clinically important questions remain poorly addressed.

Preterm infants are born with immature lungs with surfactant deficiency. These infants are at high risk of developing chronic lung disease. Cardiovascular diseases such as patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonary hypertension are common among preterm infants. Complex heart-lung interactions and other risk factors contribute to the development of chronic lung disease making preterm infants susceptible to lifelong respiratory problems.

The Kaluarachchi Research Group conducts clinical research to identify risk factors and develop preventive strategies that can halt the progression of lung disease in preterm infants. The group currently works closely with local and national collaborators such as the lung-pulmonary vascular group at UW–Madison, the non-invasive surfactant research group, and the Neonatal Research Network.

Current Research

Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)

• Utility of respiratory severity score and oxygen saturation index as predictors of failure of non-invasive respiratory failure
• High CPAP strategy to prevent failure of non-invasive respiratory failure
• Oxygenation response to aerosolized calfactant in moderate to preterm infants with RDS
• Predictors of Successful Treatment of RDS with Aerosolized Calfactant

Collaborators: Jack Kouiek (Pediatric Resident), Henry Zapata (Neonatology Fellow), Scott Guthrie (Vanderbilt University), Prem Fort (Johns Hopkins University), Steve Minton (University of Utah)

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

• Secular trends in PDA management in NICHD neonatal research network
• Changes in PDA management and risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants
• Effects of use of Acetaminophen to treat PDA in development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Collaborators: Patrick McNamara (University of Iowa), Carl Backes Jr (Ohio State University), Matt Laughon (University of  North Carolina), Valerie Chock (Stanford University)

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) and Pulmonary Hypertension (PH)

• Effects of timing of surfactant administration to development of chronic lung disease
• Respiratory severity of score to classify bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• Use of invasive NAVA in management of severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• Risk factors for development of pulmonary hypertension

Collaborators: Sarah Trinh (Neonatology Fellow), Arij Beshih (Pulmonology Fellow), Paige Condit, Vivek Balasubramanium, Luke Lamers, John Hokanson, David McCulley (University of California, San Diego), Scott Guthrie (Vanderbilt University)